COVID-19 canceled IHSA spring baseball. Gateway Grizzlies find an innovative solution
Due to the coronavirus pandemic this spring, athletes at all levels in all sports throughout the nation were denied the opportunity to compete at their highest levels.
Athletes were also denied the chance to compete for conference and in some cases state titles. And for some, they were robbed of the chance to take the field for the final time with teammates they have known for most of their lives and to be recognized in front of parents and families for their contributions.
Thanks to the Gateway Grizzlies and general manager Steve Gomric as well as many others, baseball players from seven southwestern Illinois communities will have the chance to be on the field together for one last game.
The Grizzlies and GCS Ballpark in Sauget will host the Sandlot Series baseball games, a non-IHSA sanctioned event, which will feature eight teams. The games will be played Monday and Tuesday.
Players from Belleville West and Waterloo Gibault will compete in the opener at 4:05 p.m. Monday with Edwardsville and Granite City to tangle at 7:35 p.m.
On Tuesday, Mascoutah will play Highland at 4:35 p.m. and players from Belleville East will take on Freeburg at 7:35 p.m. In addition, prior to each game, senior players from both teams and their parents will be recognized in an on-the-field ceremony.
“It’s been a very difficult spring for everybody, but especially the high school seniors,” Gomric said. “As a parent, I can’t imagine the disappointment of having my daughter’s senior year in soccer canceled and not being able to watch her play her final game and be with her in the senior night ceremony.
“This is a way for these kids to have one final game with their friends and teammates. But it’s also a way for the parents to be able to watch their sons compete, in some cases for the final time.”
Because of COVID-19, the Illinois High School Association suspended all athletic events March 12 during the boys state basketball playoffs. The IHSA then canceled its spring sports championships in April.
Because the Sandlot Series event is a non-sanctioned IHSA event, head coaches and assistant coaches are not allowed to coach their respective teams
Brett Isaacs, a former head baseball coach at Althoff, will coach the Freeburg team. Gomric credited both Isaacs and Jim Cromer of Edwardsville for helping make the event a reality.
The game will be a special one for Isaacs whose son Jake is a member of the Freeburg team. Isaacs graduated from Freeburg earlier this spring.
“Steve (Gomric) did this so the seniors could play one last baseball game,” Brett Isaacs said. “I think it’s a fantastic event. People I’ve talked to about it are excited and my son and his friends at Freeburg are excited and looking forward to it. For Steve to make the effort to make this work is just tremendous.
“I know that he has put in a tremendous amount of work over the last three weeks to month to make this event happen. As a father, to be able to watch his son play his final game is just tremendous and very special.”
Ticket info, COVID-19 precautions
Tickets are priced at $8 and will be available at the gate. Concessions will be available.
To help with social distancing, every other row of seats will be roped off at GCS Ballpark. Fans are also asked to do their part in making the Sandlot Series baseball games a safe and enjoyable event for everyone.
